The benefits of Bamboo shoots to lead a healthier lifestyle!

What are the benefits of Bamboo shoots to a healthier life? What are the nutritional value of Bamboo shoots? Well, the benefits of eating Bamboo include control of bad cholesterol, healthy weight loss, immune system strengthening, anti-inflammatory properties and cancer fighting properties. Bamboo nutritional benefits include being heart friendly, an ample supply of minerals and vitamins, hardly any fat and Bamboo contains a healthy amount of daily fiber a body needs. These are a few of the health benefits of Bamboo shoots.

What are Bamboo shoots?

Bamboo shoots are sprouts which grow beside and around the Bamboo plant. The sprouts are edible and can be prepared in many way, more on this later. The Bamboo plant is a subspecies of grass called Bambusoideae and they are the tallest and largest species of grass in the world. The Chinese Moso Bamboo plant is the fastest of all the 1500+ varieties of Bamboo, it can grow up to 39 inches or 100 centimetres per day.

Bamboo shoots are consumed in many countries in Asia including China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Philippines and India. The benefits of eating the shoots dates back thousands of years, the Chinese Tang dynasty and the Ming dynasty mention the nutritional value of Bamboo shoots. Of the many different types of Bamboo plants that sprout shoots only a few are cultivated for eating purposes.

There are two varieties of Bamboo shoots in the shops, fresh and canned. A fresh Bamboo shoot can last for two weeks or less, they need to be kept in the fridge and kept away from sunlight, otherwise they will have a bitter taste. Canned shoots have a long shelf life and can be stored for a very long time. When cooking fresh shoots they need to be boiled first of all or soaking them overnight, this will eliminate any toxins, cyanide is present in some species.

Bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots nutritional value

Bamboo shoots are low in caloric content and rich in nutrients. In every 100 gram serving of the shoots contains just 20 calories and only 3 to 4 gram of carbohydrates per 100 gram serving. Bamboo shoots have a low sugar content which is less than many fruits and vegetables. A 100 gram serving of Bamboo shoots has about 2.5 grams of sugar present. Bamboo shoots are low in fat, a typical 100 gram serving will have 0.49 grams of fat and the fat it contains is both unsaturated and saturated fats. Unsaturated fats are vital to the body in controlling bad LDL cholesterol.

Bamboo shoots contain seventeen vital amino acids and that makes it an excellent source of protein. For every 100 gram serving, 2 to 2.5 grams of protein are present. A wide variety of minerals and vitamins are present in Bamboo such as vitamin B6, vitamin A and vitamin E. Other vitamins found in Bamboo include, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, folate and niacin. Minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorous, manganese, iron, zinc, selenium and copper are found in the shoots.

Bamboo shoots contain 6 to 8 grams of dietary fiber in a single 100 gram serving and this is what makes the shoots high in dietary fiber. Did you know that Bamboo shoots can stimuate the appetite? The shoots contain cellulosic material in high quantities which stimulates the appetite, the texture and taste also makes them good for the palette! There are many benefits of eating the shoots.

A Panda and his Bamboo

Bamboo shoots health benefits

Bamboo shoots are a staple diet in many Asian countries and used to be thought of as an exotic food, but the demand from western countries is growing year by year. Bamboo shoots nutrition and health benefits should not be underestimated for a healthier lifestyle.

Bamboo shoots help in losing weight and this makes them an perfect source of food for people who want to lose diet. As a benefit of its weight-loss friendly attributes, eating the shoots will provide a full stomach and keep to a diet plan.

A healthy heart can be achieved by consuming the shoots as part of a diet. Phytonutrients and phytosterols are found in the shoots which dissolve the harmful LDL cholesterol. The cholesterol in the arteries is eased out and this provides a smooth movement of blood around the body. Eating the shoots as part of a diet can lower LDL cholesterol levels and this gives stable glucose levels. Another favourable effect is that it helps with bowel functions and lipids.

Various studies have found that the Bamboo shoot leaves consist of phytosterols; chlorophyll, amylase and flavone. Chlorophyll has showed cancer fighting properties and controlling mutations. The immune system of a body can be strengthened by having the shoots as part of a healthy diet. Antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are present in Bamboo shoots that a body needs and this improves the immune system.

The nutritional value of Bamboo shoots is a high supply of daily dietary fiber and by consuming them everyday this will be essential for healthy bowel movements and easy digestion. By combining the shoots in your daily meals, losing weight will be easier and the high fiber content means losing weight during sleep is possible.

A little known fact is that the Bamboo shoots juice can be used for medicinal purposes such as ulcers and external wounds. They also have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Bamboo extract from the shoots can be used to treat disorders such as respiratory conditions, stomach disorders and wound cleaning. Lowering blood pressure is possible because of the high amounts of potassium that the shoots contains.

Spicy Bamboo Thai style

Summary of the benefits of Bamboo shoots

As you can see there are many benefits of Bamboo shoots and these can lead to a healthier lifestyle, which is good for you and me. The shoots are high in nutritional value and they can be prepared in a variety of different ways in the, like this bamboo and pork recipe. The Bamboo plant is used by to construct houses, furniture, fabric, musical instruments, home ware, bedding, paper, bicycles and even sunglasses are made from the plant.

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